Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3205, Peter Eastman, Mass. N.H.

SERVICE .
NUMBER _____
Class. N. 16.
Eastman, Peter
P. 3205
CONTENTS

State of Vermont } Duly in said Union County on this Union County ss } twenty fifth day of July A. D. 1852 before the subscribing authority personally appeared Peter Gatson of the Town of Compton in the County of Pine Pierce and Province of Lower Canada, aged Seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, that he enlisted in service the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein after stated, that he first entered the said service in the month of May, A. D. 1775. at the town of Kingston in the State of New Hampshire, the place of his residence at that time under an enlistment for the term of nine months in the company commanded by Captain Moses McFarland of Boonhill in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Nixon & Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Nixon a brother of the first Colonel; that he was first stationed at "Old Colonel Fips Barn" in Cambridge in the State of Massachusetts, where his stand continued until after the battle of Bunker Hill; that the next day, being a Sunday, he was removed to Prospect Hill where he was employed in building a fort until some time in the month of September after, when he was removed to the "Commons" just north of "Plough Hill" and employed in building barracks for winter quarters, where he remained until his said term of enlistment expired, having served the full term except that his brother at two different times for about two weeks at that brother's request and by consent of the commander of his company served in his stead, he was regularly discharged. He acted as Drummer in his company. He had no written discharge; nor did any at that time as this is his first service. He further declares that in the month of March A. D. 1776 he enlisted in the regular line of the Conti- nental Army at the town of Kingston aforesaid, for the term of nine months, that he entered the service at a place called "Great Island" about three miles east of Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire, in the company commanded by Captain John Nelf, in the regiment commanded by Colonel David Gilman of Pembroke New Hampshire and Archibald Moore Major of Londonderry in New Hampshire and was employed dur- ing the whole term aforesaid in building a fort on said Island.

And that he was regularly discharged about one week before the nine months expired: the fort being completed and the new recruits for one year having arrived in sufficient numbers to fill the regiment for another campaign. He was discharged in the same manner as after the former campaign. He further states that in the year 1777, being at South Hampton in the State of Massachusetts and orders coming for said State to send on a certain number of men to join the army at Fishkill or Poughkeepsie in the State of New York; he enlisted for the term of two months, but when he returned home he found his family in such condition, that he could not with any propriety go on to perform his said term of two months and after much exertion not finding one who would supply his place for a less term, he hired one Moses Emerson and paid him eighty dollars to supply his place for the term, who performed the same and returned home and whether he is now living he does not know. He declares that the record of his age is in the town of Kingston, that he was born in the year 1754; since the revolutionary war he has resided ten or fifteen years in Salisbury and Hampton, three years in Guilford in Vermont and thirty two years in the town of Compton afore said. In the times of said revolution he was a volunteer; he does not know of any more direct or full evidence of service which he could produce than the annexed affidavits, that his name is not on the pension roll of the army of any State and he hereby relinquishes all claim to any pension or annuity except the present. Peter G. Eastman Subscribed & sworn to before the undersigned authority the day & year first above written.
David M. Camp Judge of Col. C. Court.
July July 26. 1832.
We the undersigned a justice of peace for said county of Orleans and resident in said State and Timothy Mott postman of said State certify that we have been long acquainted with the person who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be of the age of seventy eight as by him stated and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he has once and where he now resides to have been a soldier of the revolution as in his declaration set forth and that we concur in that opinion. Tim. M. Eastman Subscribed & sworn to the day & year above written. Isaac Severens Deputy in said Province written before Signy & Stevens.
J. M. Camp. Judge. Col. C. Ct.

4175.
Peter Eastman
reject
✓
J. P. Headfield Esq
Lehigh 28

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.
April 26 183 3
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.      
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
Mr Peter Eutimau

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. (This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produces such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Evidence & sworn may probably be found among the next Claimant is not correct in his allegation that he enlisted time for 20 long a period.

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"I've usually appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposes and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which such applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrases about "three or four months, in the field, &c., and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c., without specifying the time, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their services. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached hereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[1] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[2] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in acts [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
as of the offer of the Secretary of Massachusetts. In 9 months in 1775 as no troops were raised at that

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
P. O. _____
Service: _____
RECEIVED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, August 29, 1833.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that on the Muster-Roll of Capt. Moses M c Farland's Company, in Col. John Nixon's Regiment, are borne the following names, viz.
Stephen Eastman, Drummer, - having enlisted April 30, 1775, - and serving to August 4, 1775, - and was allowed, for service and travel, three months and nine days.
Benjamin Eastman, Private, - having enlisted April 24, 1775, and serving to August 4, 1775, - and was allowed, for service and travel, three months and fifteen days.
Ebenezer Eastman, Private, - having enlisted April 24, 1775, and serving to August 4, 1775, - and was allowed, for service and travel, three months and fifteen days.
Edward D. Dany Ly

Vermont Several Peter Eastman Rejected
See let. February 12. 1834 to V. F. Redfield
Act. 1832

District of St Francis } Province of Lower Canada }
Personally appeared before me Colonel John Wyatt Esq. one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said District. Deposith and saith that He is personally acquainted with Peter Eastman of the Township of Compton Lower Canada and also acquainted with his services in the American Armies during the Ameri- can War. Witnesseth says that He was acquainted with Eastman in 1814 for eight months in the Winterhill Camp in 1775 and his second Brother Stephen Eastman in the service joined us and how much each re- wards and bounties that a Captain of the Line of M c Asp or some such name commanded the Company and that Mr. Roger Hunt served under him who was taken in 1776 by Stephen Eastman. Witnesseth further says that was knowing to Peter Eastman inviting again for twelve months on the Penobscot Expedition Stationed on what was called Great Island in 1779 and according to his last recollection in service (Expnd)

before the term of his enlistment and he returned home on furlough.
Given this 23 rd day of September 1832 - in the presence
of Captain ... Cornelius Hyatt, Col.
Attest E. H. Murray

the most
That it is known that in a State court held at Albany for the said County of Albany that of Edwards on the fourth day of January in the year 1820 personally appeared in open court Abraham the  attorney in the Providence  State  court  for the  said  State  of  Connecticut in said Providence and made and subscribed the following deposition . In the said State  of  Connecticut  and the  State  of  Connecticut  do hereby certify that  he has been and will be  seized and possessed with  the said  estate  as his free hold  and  subscribed  the  deposition  now  read  by  me and  now  resides  in  Connecticut  in the Province of  Massachusetts so that  he is generally  known to be  residing in the neighbourhood where he resides  and is known for money or for stock  to have been a holder of the dividend and title of the age of twenty nine years and that he came in that claim ; he is now confined  and  unable  to  be  present  and  is  wholly unable to come from  Connecticut  to this  term  in order to give any deposition or action to his deposition  annexed . As for the estate that  Connecticut do hereby certify that  the  providence of  some  Connecticut is now  in the  hands of  the  State of  Connecticut  no other  names of  persons  and as far as  he knows

Therefore to all whom these presents shall come, I, the undersigned, Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify that the said order decree is a true and correct copy of the original now on file in my office and the same is a true and correct copy of the original now on file in my office.
Given under my hand and the seal of the said Court this 10th day of September 1833.
Abel Chapman Clerk
And the said Court do hereby certify that it appears to them that the person who has subscribed said decree to the above certificate is a clergyman Resident in Somersetshire aforesaid and Simon Stone who has also signed said decree to said certificate is a Resident in Compton aforesaid and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 4 th day of September 1833.
John H. Kimball Registrar

State of Vermont Orleans County ss. Dated 25. July, 1832.
David M. Camp one of the Justices of the County Court a court of record in and for the County of Orleans of my own free act and deed do hereby certify that after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories propounded by the said Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served in the States and I further certify that the said veteran by reason of bodily infirmity is unable to appear in court being very infirm & disabled from age and afflicted by a disease of the kidneys causing an involuntary urinary discharge and also so lame as not to be able to cross the room without the aid of crutches & also that Aaron Dutton, who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing affidavit is a true copy of the same as then set forth & that said veteran is considered by those who know him to be a credible man; but is unknown to me & that the above statement is entitled to credit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this twenty fifth day of July A. D. 1832. In explanation of the foregoing, I can only say that the applicant has within the last three days, as he states, travelled to this place from Compton the place of his residence a distance of about thirty miles & from a careful examination of his ear I am satisfied that the exercise has materially injured his health & that he cannot, without endangering his life, prolong his journey the distance of about sixteen miles to the place of holding the Court.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the above is a true copy of the original.
David M. Camp.
No 4170

State of Vermont Orleans County ss. Attest N.B. in his oath on the 4th. day of July situated in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty.
Of which Matter of the County of Hartford in the Province of New England I have been well acquainted with Peter Emerson who has acknowledged and sworn to the above declaration That Peter Emerson to be twenty nine years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that I concur in the opinion I have and have called the day and year aforesaid
State of Vermont Orleans County ss.
I, Ira H. Allen Clerk of Orleans County Court do hereby certify That the Hon. David M. Camp is one of the Assistant Justices of Orleans County Court and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his I believe to be genuine
i Parma, I also certify that Eben. Sanborn is a Justice of the peace for said County of Orleans and the above signature purporting to be his I believe to be genuine -
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court this 28. day of July 1832 - Ira H. Allen Clerk

I firmly trust Eastman of Aspel in the Bosom of Love can all depend on that the general result of Mr Eastman's subscription and mode with the contents of Aspel is a resident of Aspel in said County of Aspel and is then required to be a man of uniform good character as to truth and veracity, and that I could not prove the said truth to come to Aspel of Aspel Aspel County of Aspel
Yrs. W. Eastman
Aspel July 28. 1872 I subscribe and swear to before me. I also state my opinion that said witness can not be produced before me as said is said truth without great influence to the officer and the said very twenty miles roads back.
D. M. Camp Supt. Br. C. C.

State of Vermont } Be it known that before me Orleans County, Ebenezer Sanborn one of the Justices of the peace for the county, aforesaid. Personally appeared Moses Hunt and made oath to the follow- ing statement
1 3206
I, Moses Hunt of the State of Vermont and County of Orleans do testify and make oath that I was personally acquainted with Peter Eastman and certify that he enlisted and serv d eight months in the year Continental Army in the year 1775 in the company of Capt. Moses McFarlin and Regiment of Col. Nixon and I further depose that he enlisted in the year 1776 for the term of twelve months and serv d at Portsmouth in the company of Capt. John Telf and Regiment of Col. Gilman Moses Hunt
Subscribed July 26 th 1832 personally.
Appeared Moses Hunt and made oath to foregoing instrument before me. Ebenezer Sanborn. Justice of the Peace